Buy Back Schemes?
 

Hi, before I start, I'll make a confession,I've been a long time loiterer on this forum but have only just signed up. Just though I would get that off my chest!

I'm going to be working in the US for several months over the summer, and was wanting a bike while I was there.

I've looked at rental, but for a 3 month period this will be prohibitively expensive. Would it be possible to buy a bike and sell it, or do US laws not permit a foreigner to do this?

I'll be near Atlanta if that is any help, and will ride anything from a chopper to a sportsbike - I just can't bear the idea of a summer without a bike!

Thanks.

Joel

Hi, there is plenty of advice on this subject on other threads. Use the search box to find it. I'm thinking of the same thing for next year. It sounds as if you will have a permanent address or can use someone else's which makes things a lot easier. Try craigslist.com ( I think that's right ) for secondhand bikes. Also some states are better than others, different laws etc, so ask a local. Good luck and let me know how you get on.

used bikes in USA
 

craigslist: san francisco bay area classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events will show you a bunch of bikes etc.

To throw in my two bits; buy a used bike from someone who has registered it beyond the time you want to leave the US. That way, you can keep riding on their unexpired registration. It would work alot better if the person knew you are doing this, and agreed to it, and you obtained insurance, mainly the insurance that covers the other party for injuries and damages; called liability in the US, and I think 3rd party where you live. Insurance is the main thing that police care about on a pull over, and current registration next. A notarized letter that the "owner" signs that says he or she is "allowing you to use 'their' bike" might be better, yet, to help keep you out of trouble in case of police issues, such as getting pulled over. Perhaps, finding someone ahead of time through this site or another motorcycle site, and planning the purchase with them, will help ease the situation for when you come. Your stories will corraborate, and suspicions are lessened by corraborating.

Buy back option
 

I tried and tried last year to buy a new bike then sell it back to the dealer for an agreed value after a 9 week holiday period. Like you I found the cost of renting was far to high for my budget.
I was promised the earth by 2 dealers, in the end they were hollow offers. With no other option left I crated and shipped my own bike from Australia. This proved to be a wise decision as the bike was already set up for long distance travel and I knew it was reliable.
The shipping cost was about half what hire costs would have been and I rode a bike familiar to me.
Another friend bought a Gold Wing in the States, rode it around for several months then shipped it home and uses it to this day as his regular ride.

Ok now there is several more options for you to consider.

Glen

Lox has another option there.

To add to my suggestion, this is what I was suggesting. 2 years ago, my wife's great uncle sold me a commuter car to go to work and back; approx 120 miles per day. The registration was good for 9 months, so I never bothered to change it over. The insurance companies, at least in Arizona, will add a car without checking the registration. I was technically legal for the road with current registration and proper insurance. The only problem would have been if I had been stopped by the police, and the issue was pressed why the car was not registered to me. However, my wife's uncle would have vouched that I had permission to use it, etc. etc.

Lox, were you in the US with your buy-back ordeal? If you can find a reputable dealer, they could sell the bike for you on consignment, even after you left the country. Any loss you take should be less than the rental cost would have been.

It was actually Vancouver Canada, I did not think I would get a good price if I just left it for the dealer to sell for what he could get for it at the end of the local riding season. We rode in both Canada and US.

I am certainly wiser for next time!

Glen